Local wildcard Bronte Macaulay through to semis after giant-killing run at the Margaret River Pro

Local wildcard Bronte Macaulay is through to a third straight semifinal of the Margaret River Pro after upsetting world No.1 Molly Picklum for the second time on Sunday.

Macaulay, who won the local trials by just half a point last weekend to qualify for her home World Surf League event, stunned Picklum in their quarterfinal match-up, grinding out a 11.04 two-wave total to again pip the rankings leader.

The daughter of WA surfing legend Dave Macaulay, who won the event in 1989, the 29-year-old from Gracetown is no stranger to upsets in Margaret River, having previously beaten eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore at the event.

“It was a really scrappy one, I feel like neither of us surfed the way we wanted to surf but you’ve got to take those sometimes,” she said.

“This is only my second event of the year so to be making it through and still feeling like I haven’t found my best surfing is a good sign.

“I’m pretty comfortable here, I love the area and feel really happy with friends and family.”

Macaulay was full of praise for Picklum, who has been one of the breakout performers of the season, and said getting the better of her in Margaret River was a big motivator to try and re-earn a full-time place on the championship tour.

“It is a really big motivator, I know I haven’t really put a total heat together yet but I feel like I’ve got the potential to do better and I’d love to get back on and give it another crack,” she said

Macaulay will face five-time world champion Carissa Moore in the semifinals after the Hawaiian pulled off an incredible last-gasp victory over American Lakey Peterson. But that contest is likely days away with bad weather forecast to start this week.

Organisers have until next Sunday to complete the event, with ideal conditions expected to return on Friday and Saturday.

Needing a 7.06 to advance with less than two minutes remaining in her quarterfinal, Moore was given a glimmer of hope when Peterson passed on a wave she had priority on, allowing her to catch a barrel and post an incredible 9.63.

“To be completely honest when Lakey didn’t take was like ‘she didn’t take it for a reason it mustn’t be very good’,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘this is my last shot I might as well go for broke’. I’m so grateful it worked out.

“It is one of the best feelings when you kind of shock yourself. I feel really blessed, I felt like the universe kind of gifted me that and was on my side, so thank you.”

Reigning world champion Gilmore secured her place about the cutline with a round of 16 win over Gabriela Bryan earlier in the day but was knocked out in the next round by fellow Australian Tyler Wright.

Wright, who is coming off a win at Bells Beach, was too good in tougher conditions as the wind swung onshore in the afternoon.

Fellow Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons was knocked out in the quarterfinals by American Caroline Marks.

Fitzgibbons, who has 12 championship tour victories, will have to return to the challenger series to re-earn her place on the elite tour after missing the cut.

Other big names to fall victim to the cut, which reduced the size of the women’s field to just 10 competitors for the rest of the season, include Brisa Hennessy, Johanne Defay, Courtney Conlouge, and Australians Isabella Nichols, Macy Callaghan and Sophie McCulloch.